Means for use in applying, alternatively, air pressure and suction to a given point



Nov, 28, 1950 J. M. WYER 2,532,003

MEANS FOR USE IN APPLYIN ALTERNATIVELY, AIR PRESSURE AND SUCTION A GIVENPOINT Filed Sept. so, 1946 Patented Nov. 28, 1950 MEANS FOR USE INAPPLYING, ALTERNA- TIVELY, AIR PRESSURE AND SUCTION TO A GIVEN POINTJohn M. Wyer, Perton, Pattingham, near Wolverhampton, EnglandApplication September-30, 1946, Serial No. 700,222 In Great BritainOctober 3, 1945 3 Claims.

There are many cases where it is required to apply, alternatively, airpressure or suction at a given point, for instance at a chuck used forretaining a utensil thereon or therein by creating suction within thechuck during some operation on the utensil, and then applying airpressure to the'chuck to remove the utensil. The invention has for itsobject to provide improved means for the above purpose.

The invention comprises a valve constituted by a plug rotatable in anouter shell to which lead two pipes one of which is subjected to airpressure and. the other to suction, the shell being closed at one endand having at its other end a passage leading to the point where thepressure or suction is to be alternatively applied, the shell havingalso a port communicating with the atmosphere. Ports or passages areformed in the plug and are so arranged that, at one position of. theplug, the pressure pipe is put in communication with the point ofapplication while the suction pipe is put in communication with theatmosphere so that air can flow back along the suction pipe convenientlyto feedanair pump; while, at another position of the plug, the suctionpipe is put in communication with the point of application and thepressure pipe in communication with the atmosphere, so that onlyatmospheric pressure may oppose the pump when acting to create thesuction.

A convenient embodiment of the invention is described with reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the valve and its carrierthe section being taken in r the plane indicated by the line i, l, ofFigure 2.

Figure 2 is an end view of the valve looking in the direction of thearrow of Figure 1.

Figures 3, i and 5 are transverse sections each taken in the planeindicated by the line 3, t, of Figure 1 and showing different positionsof the plug.

In these drawings A indicates the shell of the valve mounted in acarrier P and B is the rotatable plug. The shell has a central passage Cleading to the point where the pressure or suction is to bealternatively applied. The other or front end of the shell is closed bya gland D out through which passes a forward portion b of the plughaving secured. to its forward end a wheel E by which it is turned.

The shell A has three main ports disclosed at angles of 90 degrees, oneof which F is a pressure port communicating by a pipe F with thepressure side of an air pump (not shown), an-

ic disposedat right angles and the chamber M ;tion with the 2 other ofwhich G is a suction port communicating by a pipe G with the suctionside of the pump and the third of which H is a port communicating withthe atmosphere.

The plug Bis closed at its forward end by a wall I) and it is divided bya longitudinal wall 22 into two chambers K and M, the'chamber K beingopen at its rear end to the passage C. The chamber M is closed at itsrear end by a wall m.

The chamber K has two peripheral ports It,

has two peripheral ports m, m

It will be seen, by reference to Figure 3, that the port k of thechamber K is in communicapressure port cf the shell, the other port isbeing closed by the body of the shell. Hence pressure is applied throughthe chamber K to the passage 0. At the same time the port m of the plugis in communication with the suction port G and the port m, in the plug,with the atmospheric port H in the shell so that air can flow freely tothe suction side of the pump.

Referring to Figure 4 it will be seen that the port 7c of the chamber Kis in communication with the port G of the shell so that suction isapplied to the passage 0 through the chamber K. At the same time theport m of the plug is in communication with the pressure port F of theshell allowing pressure air to flow into the chamber M and out therefromthrough the port 111. of the plug and the port H of the shell.

Referring to Figure 5 the port k has just commenced to open to thepressure port F but it is also open to an auxiliary port J allowing airto blow out and relieve the point of application of too suddenapplication of pressure. When the port 70 is fully open to the port Fthe aux- 'iliary port J becomes closed by the space between the ports kand 7c The degree of opening the port F can be varied at will and at thesame time the degree of blow out by the port J. Hence the degree ofpressure applied to the passage C can be controlled. A similar actiontakes place when the port is opening to the suction port G.

It is to be understood that the ports referred to as communicating withthe atmosphere may communicate with any region where the pressure issubstantially that of the atmosphere.

Having fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A valve for use in applying, alternatively, air pressure and suctionto a given point, said valve comprising an outer shell, a plug rotatablein said outer shell, two pipes leading to said shell, one of which is anair pressure pipe, and the other of which is a suction pipe, said shellbeing closed at one end, a passage leading from the other end of thesaid shell to the point where the pressureor suction is to bealternatively applied, a port said shell communicating with theatmosphere, ports in said plug so arranged that, at one position of theplug, the pressure pipe is put in connection with the point ofapplication while the suction pipe is put in communication with theatmosphere so that air can flow back along the suction pipe; while, atanother position of the plug, the suction pipe is put in communicationwith the point of application and the pressure pipe with the atmosphereand an auxiliary port through said shell o'pento the atmospherepositioned between said two pipes and arranged to communicate with saidports of said plug when said plug is rotated to a position wherein theports of said plug begin to communicate with said pressure or suctionpipes to prevent a sudden application of pressure or suction to saidpoint.

2. A valve for use in applying, alternatively, air pressure and suctionto a given point, said valve comprising an outer shell, two oppositelydisposed ports in said shell to which pressure and suction pipes leadrespectively, a third port in said shell placed midway between saidpressure and suction ports, a plug rotatable in said shell, alongitudinal partition in said plug dividing it into two chambers, eachof which is closed at one end and one of which is closed at its otherend also, While the other chamber is open at its other end to a passageleading to' the point of application, and two angularly disposed portsin the peripheral Wall of each said chamber and an auxiliary portthrough said shell open to the atmosphere positioned between PSI saidoppositely disposed ports and arranged to communicate with said chambersthrough said angularly disposed ports when said plug is rotated toinitial position wherein the chambers communicate with said pressure orsuction pipes to prevent a sudden application of pressure or suction tosaid point.

3. A valve for use in applying, alternatively, air pressure and suctionto a given point, said valve comprising an outer shell, two oppositelydisposed ports in said shell to which pressure and suctionpipes-leadrespectively, a third port in said shell placed midway between saidpressure and suction ports, a plug rotatable in said shell, alongitudinal partition in said plug dividing it into two chambers, eachof which is closed at one end and one of which is closed J OHN M. WYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Walker May 22, 1906 Noesen Jan. 19, 1909Dudley Aug. 23, 1938 Rosett Mar. 28, 1944 Number

